Gloucester Middle Street Harvest Festival to take place Nov. 18

Tuesday

Nov 14, 2017 at 2:19 PM

This year’s Gloucester Middle Street Harvest Festival, themed “Standing in Harmony,” will feature a full day of activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18.

The event will include two church fairs; the farmer’s market; the historical Sargent House, with special activities at the firehouse and the library; and a special concert dedicated to the concept of harmony, presented by the Gloucester Big Band and the Middle School choir and band.

The funds raised by the participating organizations will be used to help nonprofit organizations in their effort to make a better and caring society. For example, the funds raised by the concert will be used to help the younger generation of students at the Gloucester Middle School to afford fixing damaged instruments and the purchasing of new ones. Funds will also be used for the purchase of picture frames for photographs taken by Grace Center participants.

• Cape Ann YMCA, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Patrons will have a chance to use the Y’s facilities at no cost all Harvest Festival Day. For an online schedule, visit https://www.northshoreymca.org, or ask a Welcome Center staff member.

• Sawyer Free Library Children’s Services, 10-11 a.m.: Celebrate Harvest Festival with a presentation by Native American dancers of the Passamaquoddy and Blackfoot tribes. Learn about Native life in early Gloucester, and view an exhibit of Native artifacts.

• Cape Ann Farmer’s Market (lower level, Unitarian Universalist Church), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Take advantage of local produce, meats, fish and fruits from the fall harvest at CAFM’s fifth annual Thanksgiving Market. Patrons will have a chance to enter to win a local turkey in the annual turkey raffle.

• Grace Center Photography Show (foyer, Unitarian Universalist Church), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: This is the fourth annual exhibit and sale of photographs taken by guests of the Grace Center. This year’s theme is “Through My Lens.” This popular exhibit takes place in the church foyer above the farmer’s market.

• Cape Ann Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Patrons are invited to a special exhibition, “WWII Veterans: Portrait Photographs by Jason Grow.” These portrait photographs of Cape Ann’s World War II veterans were shown for the first time in 2016, and well-received by audiences of all ages. The museum will be free and open to the public during the Harvest Festival.

• Firehouse Tour, 11 a.m. to noon: Patrons will learn how firefighters battle fires, seeing firsthand the latest fire engines and listening to the history of fire fighting in Gloucester — including the evolution of the fire engine itself. All ages are welcome.

• Sargent House: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Come and enjoy a special exhibition reception for “Art from the Garden,” showcasing artwork from the “Artists in the Garden” program series. Every summer, local artists have been invited to seek inspiration from the iconic late-Georgian home and gardens of Judith Sargent Murray.

• Benefit Concert by Cape Ann Big Band (sanctuary, Unitarian Universalist Church), 2-3:30 p.m.: This concert will feature members of the O’Maley Jazz Band and Chorus. Proceeds will be donated to the O’Maley Innovation Middle School to repair old instruments and purchase new instruments, and to support the Grace Center.

• Cape Ann Big Band Benefit Concert (sanctuary, Unitarian Universalist Church), 2-4 p.m.: Special guest appearances will be made by the O’Maley Middle School Jazz Band and Chorus. Proceeds will be donated to the O’Maley Innovation Middle School to repair old instruments and purchase new instruments, and to support the Grace Center. Cost: $5, general admission; free, ages 17 and younger.